Mdou Moctar, from mysterious Saharan musician to touring the world
February 23, 2020 7:34 PM Subscribe
Mdou Moctar was drawn to music for a long time, first known for his majestic singing of the Koran, then for his unique guitar style, inspired by Tinariwen (jamming with Red Hot Chili Peppers members in 2012), an internationally famous Tuareg band who also played "desert blues" (previously). Regionally renowned, his music was traded around the Sahara via cell phones, before getting broader distribution (previously). In 2015, he played Prince's role as "the kid" in a Kickstarter-funded version of “Rain the Color of Blue With a Little Red in It” (previously; short Guardian article; soundtrack on Bandcamp). Late last year, his latest album, Ilana: The Creator (Bandcamp) was touted as perhaps the most fiery psych-rock of the 21st century (NPR), earning him the title of The Hendrix of the Sahara in his Esquire interview.
A few more things:
First, Johnny Wallflower nudged me to make a post about Moctar a while back.
Second, Music from Saharan Cellphones, and the Purple Rain cover/ tribute movie, came about thanks to ethnomusicologist Christopher Kirkley, a.k.a. MeFi's own iamck.
Third, both Purple Rain and Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai (Akounak for short; the title translates to “Rain the Color of Blue With a Little Red in It,” named as such because there is no Tuareg word for purple) are streaming in some regions. The former is currently on Netflix, at least in the US, and you can view the latter on Vimeo (trailer for free, movie to rent) and on Amazon (streaming on Prime, for free, in the US).
Fourth, there was previously another "Hendrix of the Sahara," and that was Mona, who took his cues from Western rock and was known throughout the region as the “Hendrix of the Sahara”. Sahel Sounds has another article on him, with a clip of him playing Hey Joe, for a more direct comparison.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:44 PM on February 23, 2020 [4 favorites]
First, Johnny Wallflower nudged me to make a post about Moctar a while back.
Second, Music from Saharan Cellphones, and the Purple Rain cover/ tribute movie, came about thanks to ethnomusicologist Christopher Kirkley, a.k.a. MeFi's own iamck.
Third, both Purple Rain and Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai (Akounak for short; the title translates to “Rain the Color of Blue With a Little Red in It,” named as such because there is no Tuareg word for purple) are streaming in some regions. The former is currently on Netflix, at least in the US, and you can view the latter on Vimeo (trailer for free, movie to rent) and on Amazon (streaming on Prime, for free, in the US).
Fourth, there was previously another "Hendrix of the Sahara," and that was Mona, who took his cues from Western rock and was known throughout the region as the “Hendrix of the Sahara”. Sahel Sounds has another article on him, with a clip of him playing Hey Joe, for a more direct comparison.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:44 PM on February 23, 2020 [4 favorites]
Any relation to Omara Moctar, aka "Bombino"?
Bombino - Imuharposted by Nerd of the North at 7:50 PM on February 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
I don't believe so.
And here's the original link that Johnny sent me: 'We are modern slaves': Mdou Moctar, the Hendrix of the Sahara, an interview with Kim Willsher for The Guardian. Here's the context of that quote:
And here's the original link that Johnny sent me: 'We are modern slaves': Mdou Moctar, the Hendrix of the Sahara, an interview with Kim Willsher for The Guardian. Here's the context of that quote:
He is a vocal critic of France’s influence on its former colony, which became independent in 1960.posted by filthy light thief at 8:53 PM on February 23, 2020 [4 favorites]
“For 48 years France has exploited the uranium in our country, and yet we still don’t have roads, medicines and in many places there is no water or electricity,” he says. “France says we are independent now but we have no independence, we are modern slaves. They say this is an Africa problem, but we have had enough of what France is doing to us; it’s as if we’re still in the 15th century.”
Moctar insists he is doing his bit to help his country with plans to build a school and health clinic in his local village; religious leaders there were sceptical of his music, but he has won them round with his lyrics of respect, honour and tradition. “I am religious, but being a Muslim doesn’t stop me being an artist. Music is not criminal. My music satisfies people and through it I am helping people, which counts for something. I’m just an ambassador, like a messenger of music, telling what is happening in my world.”
Since we have included Bombino and Tinariwen here, let's be sure to also check out Les Filles de Illighadad, who also sing in Tamishek. Not as fiery perhaps, but just as soulful.
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 8:38 AM on February 24, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 8:38 AM on February 24, 2020 [2 favorites]
This is very good and I look forward to digging into the post's links!
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:05 PM on February 24, 2020
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:05 PM on February 24, 2020
Tartit also sing in Tamishek, much more chill and have more female voices. I haven't listened to Abacabok in a decade or more so thanks for the memory jog!
posted by fiercekitten at 5:32 PM on February 24, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by fiercekitten at 5:32 PM on February 24, 2020 [3 favorites]
This is exactly the thing I want. Kudos, good sir!
posted by panama joe at 7:51 PM on February 24, 2020
posted by panama joe at 7:51 PM on February 24, 2020
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